I'm out today talking to my neighbor(damned kid) He has a 2000 300M and a mini van (Dodge). We get to talking about Mopars and he starts telling me about his Grandpa's Desoto that is his now since Grandpa passed away. He tells me about the clock in the center of the steering wheel(that I kinda knew about) and the push button tranny(which I DO know about) then he starts teling me about the suicide doors on the back.That brings me to my question, Did 57,58,59 (he couldn't remember the year for sure but he knew it wasn't a 60) Desotos have suicide doors on the back???? I didn't think so (none I've ever seen) but the kid seemed so sure he had me second guessing myself even after I said "Are you sure? He talked like gramps owned the car for ever and it is in "pristine" condition but I think he's wrong about the doors. So who's right him or me???

Title: 57,58,59 Desotos
Post by: Steve on March 20, 2008, 06:55:10 PM

Not that I know of. That probably went away in 1952 or 3 or earlier. The only car I knew later with suicide doors was the Lincoln Vert in the 60's. There were a bunch of manufacturers in the 40's that did them.

All I have is 2 doors on the main site. But it seems to me the clock in the steering wheel was very early 50's

This is a 55 and 56. It looks like it might have room for a clock, but I don't see it.http://www.moparfins.com/Desoto/56/Firedome/Images/1956%20Firedome%20Front%20Seat.jpg (http://www.moparfins.com/Desoto/56/Firedome/Images/1956%20Firedome%20Front%20Seat.jpg)POLARACO2008-03-20 22:56:48

It sounds like a 56 Arlen......but I would go see it before telling him he's full of **** about suicide rear doors.....some DeSotos were built with custom bodies and you might have a weird rare one there!

I love the things people will say about cars that "Granddad had." I met a guy who told me his GD had a '68 Monaco with a "Murader Motor" in it. I asked him if his GD has a Dodge or a Mercury? You can guess where the argument went from there.

Steve is right, the '61-'67 Continental, hardtop and 'vert, had suicide doors. So did the 4-door T-Bird of '67-9.

If his grandad's car is a '57-'59 Desoto and, indeed, has suicide doors, it is a custom job as none came that way from the factory. You don't need to see the car to tell him the latter, but you mihgt need to see the cxar to tell him, "Someone changed those doors as they didn't come that way form the factory."

Title: 57,58,59 Desotos
Post by: Steve on April 10, 2008, 12:34:35 PM

My grand dad had a Model A Pickup. It had suicide doors and air conditioning. The tail gate was gold plated.

That was a long 139.5" wheelbase low production 8 passenger car and itdid have suicide doors, however the regular sedans had standard typedoors. Imagine pushing that boat with the 112 hp flathead 6 thatwas the only available engine??

Title: 57,58,59 Desotos
Post by: Steve on April 11, 2008, 11:47:10 AM

Had a 6.11:1 rear in it (http://www.moparfins.com/forum/smileys/smiley36.gif) and a 50:1 first gear.